MOA & HOA = PIA

We learned very quickly that the Murray Hill Home Owners Association is going to be difficult for us. We aren't used to having to apply for each and every thing we want to do to *our* home. We are the type of people that take care of our home and our yard. We know what we want and we like nice things. Unfortunately that doesn't always matter with the Home Owners Association.

We spent a couple of hours last week in the main office applying for everything we could think of at the time. And I mean you have to apply for approval of everything. And, best of all, you have to pay to file for these approvals with the committee.

So far, the only thing we've been approved on is the type of roofing material and the color. They, of course, ask for the most expensive materials and the most common colors. Fine, purchased.

We had to submit paint chips of the exterior of the house and the trim. Then we had to paint a 4x4 square on one wall so that the committee could view the color and decide. No decision yet, but we went with grey and white, so we're hopeful.

We had to apply for most of the trees to be removed. I had to draw, basically to scale, each shrub, tree, grass and ground covering we'd be using to replace those we would be taking out. Fine, done. No decision on that yet either, but again we're hopeful. Especially since no one has trimmed or cared for the yard in almost two years.

We applied to get a fence built, but have pretty much been told no. We wanted a nice vinyl/steel type of fence as not to block our beautiful new landscape and stream. But, the MOA asks that you use cedar only along the sides of the property and then cedar with a chicken wire type thing across the back where the stream/water way is. Fine, whatever. Neither of us like the cedar fence, but it will save us money, so we're reevaluating the plan.

We've also applied to be able to use a wood garage door and front door. As they have to match, we didn't take too long deciding. Again, no decision yet.

We apparently need to apply for the new light fixtures and numbers that we'll be using on the exterior of the home too. We apparently also need to apply to put river rock in the yard instead of cedar chips. We apparently need to apply to install a flagpole. It does go on and on, so we'll see how everything goes.

It kind of sucks to get excited about projects on your *own* home to then be told it's not something that you can do.